Expo 2020 Dubai has logged 2.35 million visits in the first month since it opened its doors with a star-studded ceremony streamed live around the globe. Almost a third of the visits were made by young people under 18-years-old, but the figure was expected to rise as the Expo School Programme pick ups during the cooler months ahead, organisers said in a statement.

“An impressive 17 per cent of the total visits came from overseas, which was notable considering the event takes place when many countries are still operating pandemic travel restrictions,” organisers said, noting the 185 nationalities that have come through the Expo gates. The top five most popular overseas markets are India, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and the UK, they added.

More than half of the Expo 2020 Dubai visitors hold season passes, meaning they intend to visit the site multiple times, while over a quarter of them bought multi-day passes for the event’s run until March 31, 2022.

A total of 5,610 official events were held across the Expo site during the first month including concerts by famous musicians including Amr Diab, Kadim Al Sahir and Sami Yusuf to appearances of major sporting stars such as the Harlem Globetrotters and the Rajasthan Royals cricket team. Participating countries have flown in musicians and performers as well as held panel discussions featuring business leaders to astronauts.

For November, Nancy Ajram and Ragheb Alama will share top billing for the second of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Infinite Nights concert series to mark Diwali, as well as early celebrations for the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.